“Not a politician but a public servant.” That’s how Jacque Patterson describes himself. A Democrat, he hopes to win the party’s nomination on April 3 for the Ward 8 D.C. Council seat.
His self-assessment has a subtle potency: It recasts as odious incumbent Marion Barry’s perceived strength as a seasoned politician. It also advances the prevailing opinion that too many elected officials are driven by personal interests — not residents’ needs.
“I am focused on the people of Ward 8,” Patterson told me. “The problems here are so serious, we can’t play around. People’s lives are involved.”
Patterson has served his ward for nearly two decades. A resident of the Shipley Terrace neighborhood, he has been an advisory neighborhood commission and is immediate past president of the Ward 8 Democrats.
Some political operatives have predicted neither Patterson nor any of the other challengers — Sandra Seegars, Darrell Gaston and Natalie Williams — can beat Barry. Undoubtedly, there are folks who will continue to rally around him. They often cite as the reason for their allegiance things he did as mayor, most notably providing summer jobs.
“I say to those people let’s talk about the last eight years. Nothing [Barry] has proposed has affected any positive change for Ward 8 residents,” continued Patterson.
In my review of Barry’s recent legislative record, I found a heavy emphasis on property tax exemptions for nonprofits; ceremonial renaming of streets and buildings; and meaningless resolutions to disapprove contracts.
Those are not the issues facing Ward 8 residents. In separate conversations with Seegars, Williams, and Patterson — (I couldn’t reach Gaston) — they cite education, economic development, health care delivery and crime reduction as important areas of focus.
Patterson, who worked in former Mayor Anthony A. Williams’ administration and did a stint at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, has the background and expertise to help develop public policies and other programs to aggressively address those key problems.
Among other things, he has advocated for a business improvement district in downtown Anacostia. “I’ve talked to the business community and they are ready for change.” He would prefer space near the Anacostia Metro station as the permanent location for the city’s community college. And, he has advocated that traditional schools adopt “best practices” of charter schools — a position that appears aligned with D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “We have to change how we are educating children.”
Some people believe only residents living in a particular ward should be interested in its political races. They’re wrong. Legislators don’t simply represent specific geographic constituents; they set the public policy course for the entire city. Equally important, they also decide how to spend $6 billion of taxpayers’ money. Consequently, every District resident and voter has a stake in who gets elected in Ward 8.
Patterson has the vision, the skills, the energy, and the integrity to serve Ward 8 residents — and the city — successfully and effectively. He deserves the vote on April 3.
jonetta rose barras can be reached at [email protected]
Jonetta Rose Barras’s column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
